Cut State share in SOEs

Fifteen years ago, I told the IMF-World Bank annual meeting that China had to deepen the reform of State-owned enterprises by reducing its State share in their stocks from 100 percent to less than 30 percent. Much progress was made in the five years that followed: most of the small and medium-sized SOEs were reorganized and many SOEs were listed and became very profitable.

Pros and cons of shale gas for China

Shale gas in China could become a game changer. With recoverable resources of up to 36.1 trillion cubic meters, China has the world's largest deposit of shale gas, and if accessed properly, it could turn its energy problem on its head.

Letters

Parents, education system to blame

From the chinese press

Tale of dubious realty developer

A very rash act by the US

President Barack Obama early this year signed into law the United States' National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, which the Senate and House of Representatives passed in December. The act includes two sections that involve China's core interests, namely one asking the US president to "take steps to address Taiwan's shortfall in fighter aircraft through the sale of F-16 C/D aircraft" and the one stating that "the US reaffirms its commitment" to the US-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security with regards to the Diaoyu Islands dispute. This is an alarming move. The US legislators think they are safeguarding the US' national interests but they are actually harming them.

Cartoon

Motorists see red at yellow rule

If you ever drive a car in Shanghai, you will very quickly learn a new way to interpret a yellow traffic light.

Prudence in urbanization

The vow of authorities to utilize land resources in a rational manner as they push forward urbanization, a process that has often been accompanied by land disputes, is a show of respect for the people-oriented approach to development.

Making foster homes better

The Ministry of Civil Affairs' promise to revise the rules to make it easier for individuals to adopt orphans or abandoned children is welcome. However, that such a promise is the result of the death of seven orphans in a fire at their impoverished foster mother's home shows how necessary it is to match words with deeds.

Testing year for Asian economies

The growth rate of emerging Asian economies is expected to increase in 2013. But inflation and gloomy external conditions still pose a challenge for the macroeconomic policies of many of these economies. In the medium term, their growth rate will be higher than other regions but lower than it was before the global financial crisis. This squarely puts the focus on economic reform and restructuring.

Adding mortar to the BRICS

There has been meaningful progress in India-China relations recently and this year has begun on a positive note. This is significant given the leadership change in China.

Letters

Rethink family planning policy